Diners Club Club Rewards - Diners Club BA Miles 2 for 1

Hi all,

I have just heard that DC will be running a 2003 BA miles promotion the same as last years whereby they will convert your DC points into BA miles at 1:2 (1 DC = 2 BA).

I dont current have a DC card, but, does anyone know if:

a. There is a points bonus for signing with DC (maybe through a referral source) ?
b. As a UK member, I could transfer any miles from other UK FF or Hotel plans into DC, even the normal reduced rate ?

Many thanks !

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Bond Boy

The normal conversion rate for DC points to airlines is 2 DC points exchange to 1 mile. The BA promo has been to allow an exchange of 1 DC point = 1 BA mile.

American Airlines and United allow 50,000 miles per year to be transferred into Diner's Club Rewards points at an exchange of 1:1.

Typically this means that if you want to exchange American or United miles into another airline program then 50,000 miles = 50,000 DC points which can then be changed to 25,000 miles in another airline program. You have opportunities to exchange airline miles from one program to another, but you lose half the miles in the exchange.

The great thing about the BA promo is that you can transfer UA or AA miles to BA miles in an even exchange.
50,000 UA miles = 50,000 DC points which can be converted to 50,000 BA miles.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Bond Boy:
I dont current have a DC card, but, does anyone know if:

a. There is a points bonus for signing with DC (maybe through a referral source) ?
Many thanks !

</font>

I got 10,000 miles (20K points) when I joined several years ago. Until I got to FlyerTalk, I never got an annual redemption bonus - that mistake will be rectified!

Also, if you're just looking at BA, there is usually a Visa offer that gives you 10,000 BA miles for signing up.

In any event, call them first and work your best deal. 10K miles for signing shouldn't be that hard to do.

Now if only US would allow miles transfers ... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bond Boy:

I have just heard that DC will be running a 2003 BA miles promotion the same as last years whereby they will convert your DC points into BA miles at 1:2 (1 DC = 2 BA).

---&gt; From where did you hear that the 1-1 promo will be there in 2003. usually its announced only in June and runs from June 1st to Aug 31st.

a. There is a points bonus for signing with DC (maybe through a referral source) ?

---&gt; For US members there is a 2000 points per month signup bonus for 12 months. This equals either 24000 BA miles during the 1-1 promo or 12000 miles in any airlines outside of the promo. Not sure what the deal is for UK DC card holders.

There is also a referral program for US members where if you are referred by an exisiting DC cardholder, that person gets 6000 points. Not sure if this is applicable for UK DC card holders.

[This message has been edited by venkat (edited 01-12-2003).]

I also would like to confirm the 2003 BA deal. I think this would be a smart move for my UAL miles....If UAL makes it....It will still be 1/2 the airline it was....It has been very hard to get award travel now...
ZZ

2003 would make 4 straight years and I would be very happy but we need this verified somehow because as Venkat states the promo is not usually announced until June after intense speculation in April and May.

Bump. Bond Boy, can you please tell us where you heard that this promo will return for 2003?

The promotion I got in May was 2000 bonus points per month for the first year as long as you used the card at least once a month....

Sorry guys, I really can't recall now. I remember hearing it froma usually reliable source thought, it wasn't just gossip.

I have however stuck with AMEX as they give me a free BA flight (companion) when I spend BA miles and have spent £15,000 on the card in one year.

It was confirmed last year by late April on the BA promo.
Posted it here.
If my source from Diners Club confirms it again for me this year I will report it approx the same time
I should know about last week or 2 in April
That is if someone in our FT community does not beat me to it !
3 cheers if it returns !

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AA & Starwood,Marriott Platinum
Hyatt, Hilton Diamond
Swissotel Club Gold
U/A 1k

It was confirmed by an Executive last year by late April on the BA promo.
I posted it here.Though I had heard from reliable sources prior it looked good.
If my source from Diners Club confirms it again for me this year I will report it approx the same time
I should know about last week or 2 in April
That is if someone in our FT community does not beat me to it !
3 cheers if it returns !

------------------
AA & Starwood,Marriott Platinum
Hyatt, Hilton Diamond
Swissotel Club Gold
U/A 1k

[This message has been edited by 777 global mile hound (edited 02-16-2003).]

I spoke with DC club VP today and he confirmed BA promotion would run this summer.

Check the BA board for discussion on 2003 changes to the British Airways Executive Club, which sharply devalue points by dramatically raising most award redemption levels.

FTers are still trying to figure out the fallout, but one example: a round-trip first-class award ticket from the US to Australia on a BA partner such as QANTAS will now cost 240,000 BA points -- up from 125,000 before.

This makes me ask what the value of the 2:1 promo, or anything to do with the BA Executive Club, really is now. If the "cost" of some premium awards is tripled or worse, then acquiring BAEC points at even a 2:1 makes them too costly.

[This message has been edited by BearX220 (edited 03-04-2003).]

One BA thread on the changes:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum15/HTML/003338.html

Another very significant change is that from July 1, 2003 the only way to open an Executive Club account will be by flying BA on a full-fare ticket.

These changes are terrible, and they destroy the value of any partnership with BA. I'm going to burn my 250k EC miles and be done with it. I don't know about DC -- this promo was the reason I got my card.

Now that we've had a couple of days to absorb the BA changes...

... they seem explicitly designed to discourage anyone who doesn't buy a lot of full-fare tickets, preferably in premium classes, from British Airways. And that means Diners Club cardholders who are transferring Club Rewards points into BAEC accounts and scoring premium travel for very little effort.

From July 1, it will take at least 60 to 70 percent more BA points now to get Club or First travel awards. Some BA-metal awards that once were bargains (US-LHR-Far East in First for 150k miles) are now insanely "overpriced" (that same award goes to 420k miles).

Overnight the BA Executive Club becomes a non-competitive proposition for most flyers in the United States.

Which raises the question... for those of us who usually take advantage of the BA 2:1 promo... what was the point of having a Diners Club card again?

My primary reason for having a Diners Club card was the 2 for 1 BA miles annual promotion. However, the impending devaluation of BA miles will change that.

I used to use my BA miles to fly from the US to Pakistan using 125,000 miles. The cost has now gone up to 270,000 miles. I would need to spend USD135,000.00 (or USD270,000.00 if the 2 for 1 promotion does not run)to get enough miles for the ticket. I could fly the same route using my Aadvantage miles on Cathay Pacific using 140,000 miles which could be earned using my Starwood American Express by spending USD115,000.00.

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American 2 MM Executive Platinum; United Premier 100k; British Airways Gold; Starwood Platinum; Hyatt Diamond; Hilton Gold

[This message has been edited by Ally (edited 03-04-2003).]

...

[This message has been edited by Babu (edited 03-05-2003).]

I do hope BA does not continue down this devaluation path.

However, Delta has offered the 1-1 transfer in the past. Perhaps they will step up to the plate.

BA will not be of any interest very soon.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

I actually used the BA miles primarily for AA flights. It seems that there is no change on that (yet), which means you can still go to Europe for "20k" in low season, to Hawaii for "17.5K" and Domestic for "12.5k" (based on a 1:2 conversion). Am I right?

The 2 for 1 promo only keeps the value of the original mile - so if you transfer 40K AA miles to BA, they will be worth 40K BA miles. I'm not sure why you would want to do that, unless you were transferring UA miles to fly AA. I will be flying BA for the first time in Business Class, and from what I am hearing it is a better product. The old rates were cheaper too at 80K (rather than 90K on AA with AA miles) and they gave a 5K discount for online booking - no longer there. Anyway I have two business class seats for 150K on BA which is flatbed. Coach would have been 35K (instead of 40).

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Ms.DtG

I believe what reisevergnuegen said is correct. he is refering to spending on Diner's card, where you get 2 points per dollar spent, so you will get 2 BA mile per dollar spent.

Does the 2-for-1 generally begin in June or July? I ask because if it's June, I can transfer miles in and then get an award before July 1 when the BA devaluation occurs.

Previously, the promotion has started in June. I have a terrible fear, however, that this year they might choose July, specifically to block those of us who are counting on redeeming awards before the Executive Club screw-over takes effect.

Valid point! I also think it will start July 1st this year, if it starts at all.
I've heard somewhere that Diners Club's Club Rewards program and BA EC are managed by the same marketing company but I'm not sure about that.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by satori:


American Airlines and United allow 50,000 miles per year to be transferred into Diner's Club Rewards points at an exchange of 1:1.

</font>

I too am hoping that this promotion will continue (and allow for BA transfer before July 1st).

My goal is to convert my AA miles to BA to fly Concorde.

I'm under the impression that this has successfully been done before, so how stringent is the 50,000 mile limit?

Also, are there any promotions to earn AA miles by opening a Diners Club account?

-FlyerBeek



[This message has been edited by FlyerBeek (edited 03-23-2003).]

No signup bonuses specific to AA, but Diners standard offer does give you 2000 points (worth 1000 miles on most airlines) per month that you use the card for the first 12 months IF you have NEVER had a Diners card before. You can optionally designate a current cardholder as your referrer and they'll get some bonus points too.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dhacker:
No signup bonuses specific to AA, but Diners standard offer does give you 2000 points (worth 1000 miles on most airlines) per month that you use the card for the first 12 months IF you have NEVER had a Diners card before. You can optionally designate a current cardholder as your referrer and they'll get some bonus points too.</font>

Is that offer still in effect? I did appoint you , dhacker as my designator, and have received my 2k points about 3/4th of the months.

Thanks, I'm glad it paid off for bith of us.

The member-get-a-member program is still valid.

If anyone else is signing up and looking for a referrer, please ask one of the other regular posters on this forum to privately email you their referal code. I'm not sure it would be appropriate for me to accept these referral bonuses any more since I volunteered to be the moderator.

I have exceeded the 50,000 mile limit the last two years with no problem, and as I recall there are many others who have done the same. Personally this year I am not taking a chance and waiting for the 2:1, I want tickets in hand sooner rather than later. In my particular situation it is going to "cost" me 32,000 potential miles on BA or 16,000 on another airline to get my tickets in March rather than June/July but I will take that chance. If there is one thing the past 18 months has taught me it is that I have too many miles as it is and I need to start liquidating before the value evaporates.

When transfering AA miles to DC (and then to BA)...

Must you do it in small quantites, or could I transfer 125,000 AA miles at once?

How long would the entire AA-&gt;DC-&gt;BA transfer take?

Thanks,
FlyerBeek

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BigKing:
I have exceeded the 50,000 mile limit the last two years with no problem, and as I recall there are many others who have done the same. Personally this year I am not taking a chance and waiting for the 2:1, I want tickets in hand sooner rather than later. In my particular situation it is going to "cost" me 32,000 potential miles on BA or 16,000 on another airline to get my tickets in March rather than June/July but I will take that chance. If there is one thing the past 18 months has taught me it is that I have too many miles as it is and I need to start liquidating before the value evaporates.</font>

Last summer, I transferred somewhere around 100,000 miles from AA to BA.

Can one transfer BA miles into Diner's Club Points? I've got about 35k in BAEC that I need to be able to use somewhere else, preferably Starwood or AA, with the least devaluation.

Thanks.

From the 2003 Diner's Club catalog the only airline miles transfers listed are with United and American miles to DC points on a 1:1 ratio and transfers must be made in 10,000 mile increments.

Thanks for the reply - forgot you could use them on AS - that's where I'm using 'em!

Any official announcement yet?

I am 100% confident that once it becomes official if will be posted on this board at "the speed of light" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
I remember last year it was posted around this time of the year (mid april - beginning of may)

Still no news on whether BA will do this again this year...........isn't this about the time we heard last year?

I am 100% confident that once it becomes official if will be posted on this board at "the speed of light"
I remember last year it was posted around this time of the year (mid april - beginning of may)

I will not be trasferring any DC points to BA this year even if the promotion runs. I am finished with BA.
Giving me 25% miles for the actual mileage flown is just insulting. It's like giving waiter a one penny tip.
If they don't want to reward economy passengers they shouldn't reward them at all.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by FlyerBeek:


How long would the entire AA-&gt;DC-&gt;BA transfer take?

Thanks,
FlyerBeek</font>

Can anyone answer this?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by johnep1:
Can anyone answer this?</font>

It depends.

Normal process:
Request AA-&gt;DC certificate at AA website.
Takes about 1-2 weeks to receive the certificate.

Mail the certificate to DC. 1-week.

DC processing the certificate and deposit points 2-3 weeks

Once points in DC account and redeemed, takes about 1-2 week to see miles in BA account.

Normal Total: 5-8 weeks

Expediated processing:

Call AAdvantage CS and redeem for DC certificate for $50. They send certificate to you by fedex and you get it next day.2 days

You send the certificate to DC by fedex. 2 days

DC process certificate and deposit points: 2 -3 weeks

Once points post to your DC account, call DC and expediate to BA for $35. Miles would post within 2-3 days.

Expediated processing: 3-4 weeks

I have trasferred DC points to BA, UA and CO. All transfers took about a week or so, the BA actually took only 3 days. No one will make me pay the $35 fee.